A leading light in the LGA’s local government improvement work has passed away.
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer was among those from across the local government family and beyond to pay tribute to the “legendary” Cllr Judi Billing MBE, who died on 24 November.
Cllr Billing, 71, was a member of the LGA’s People and Places Board and previously Deputy Chair of its Improvement and Innovation Board, and until this year also sat on the LGA Labour Group’s Executive.
She worked across party lines in her board roles at the LGA to help councillors be effective and to improve local government.
She also worked as an officer at the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) for seven years, becoming Director of the Leadership Academy and then Head of Programmes.
A district councillor for 42 years, she was Executive Member for Community Engagement at North Herts Council and served as a Hertfordshire county councillor since 2013, where she was Leader of the Labour Group.
Cllr James Jamieson, LGA Chairman, said: “It is with great sadness that we learned of Judi’s passing. Judi was a remarkable person, who dedicated so much of her life to local government, as both an officer and a councillor.
“Her contribution to councillor development and leadership across local government is hard to overstate, and she was always willing to share her experience and expertise for the benefit of others.
“For many years, Judi worked tirelessly with us, and her huge contribution to helping councils improve services for the many people who rely upon them means she leaves a lasting legacy.
“On behalf of all of us across the sector, I offer my heartfelt condolences to Judi’s family and friends. She will be very sadly missed.”